Author: jon

Jon Curnow writes on curnow.org about things that interest him. The site has been around for many years in various forms and he always wants to write much more here than he does.

Today In London

Today was busy but I really wish I hadn’t had to go into work.

Picture179_01Oct04.jpgOn the upside, last night’s visit to The Borderline was great. On the downside PY has his mobile phone stolen from his pocked in a branch of Starbucks. And what does that say about us? Instead of standing at the bar waiting for the gig we went to Starbucks for coffee. Today, I had the morning off work as we’d bought PY’s mum a trip on the Orient Express from Victoria. The carriage was very impressive and it sounds like they had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, I had to go back to work in the afternoon.

And tonight’s Evening Standard headline managed to get Iraq of the front cover for once.

The End Of September

Maybe I should buy the mugs

Time to get organised. Somebody new is starting in our office today and we don’t have enough mugs for the coffee. Tonight I am off to see a gig at The Borderline. Additionally I have a strange urge to make my computer make sounds on various actions – usually I work with the sound muted to stop all those sounds created by random things online but right now I want it to speak to me. I must be mad. I will get over it tomorrow.

I Pressed The Button

The one thing that David Page probably should not have done when he thought he had uncovered a second world war mine in his yard was to push the button on the end of it.

There was an amusing news story last week about a man who pressed what he thought was a the trigger of a second world war bomb only to discover it was part from the suspension of Citroen car. I read it in a newspaper that was discarded on the underground on my way into work. As it stuck in my brain I have been telling people about it for a good week now and so, in order to share with even more of you, I’ve been off and found a link to the story at The Guardian.

Routematser Bye Bye

A great London icon.

Routematser Bye ByeRoutemasters are a fantastic icon of London and I will miss them when they are gone. Yesterday, as I sat explaining their value to a group of visiting Americans, I watched as the crowds on Piccadilly boarded them anywhere on the street. Smart and efficient.. Then I watched a bendy-bus block most of Piccadilly Circus. Somebody thinks it’s progress. [Routematser Bye Bye]

Shrewsbury Abbey at Flickr

I didn’t want this site to become a site full of my photographs but I couldn’t resist posting another one from my weekend back in Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury AbbeyI didn’t want this site to become a site full of my photographs but I couldn’t resist posting another one from my weekend back in Shrewsbury. This picture isn’t as good but it’s of Shrewsbury Abbey – at the bottom of Abbey Foregate just before you reach the English Bridge. I passed this place every day on my way into college as I was growing up and it’s a sight that always makes me think of being a teenager. [Shrewsbury Abbey]
Sadly, I could only find one other picture of Shrewsbury at Flickr and that turns out to be a different Shrewsbury!

Lord Hill’s Mighty Tower

Lord Hill's Mighty TowerI love the colours on this picture. Although it was taken early in the morning (at least, early for a Sunday) the colours are fantastic. And what’s more it’s been taken with my Treo’s mobile camera which isn’t the greatest camera in the world. According to Shropshire Online, “Lord Hill’s Column, outside Shirehall, is one of Shrewsbury’s striking landmarks. The tallest Doric column in the world, it commemorates the First Viscount Lord Hill, who lived from 1772 to 1842.” [Lord Hill’s Mighty Tower]

Crazy Name, Worthy Cause

Wind is the way forward.

Last week Tony Blair talked a little about cimate change and the environment. According to The Guardian low-carbon fuel sources are “indispensable today if we are to cushion the British economy against volatile oil and gas prices” [source]. Today I discivered that 74% of people in the UK think that wind farms are necessary to help us meet current and future energy needs. According Embrace The Wind (not sure about the name) the voices of that 74% is not being heard which is why they say it’s time to show your support and Embrace the Revolution.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar at The New Wimbledon Theatre with James Fox as Judas.

james foxSo I have to take it all back about TV pop stars. Last night I went to The New wimbledon Theatre to see the touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar. PY bought tickets for my birthday. I had heard the soundtrack as a child but never seen the musical until I was in Norway a couple of years ago when I saw it in Norwegian – which of course made little sense to me but was an amazing staging in an outdoor setting. This one was, thankfully, in English. Fame Academy star James Fox was Judas and he put in a superb performance. He was very impressive with a much more powerful voice than I thought he had the last time I saw him perform his own material.

Glenn Carter was excellent as Jesus (although it seems to have been a role he has played many times) and the rest of the cast were also very good. The only piece I found a little odd was Herod’s Song which was camped up unnecessarily but – overall – an excellent night out and worth going to see. Last night was the first night and it was sold out. I hope the rest of the run is like that as it deserves it.

Flick For Canada

Vancouver, Flickr’s home town, has a reputation for beauty.

Flickr is my photo site of choice right now. Ideally I would like to generate similar features using Gallery (which I have hosted on my site too) but I don’t yet have the time to sort all that out. So, right now, Flickr will do me very well. I am pleased to learn in their recent blog post that they are Canadian (I have such a soft spot for Canada) and – what’s more – they are based in Vancouver which is where we’re planning out holiday next year. You weren’t really interested in that were you?

Weekend In Britain’s Smallest County

A weekend away with friends and a visit to Rutland Water.

image of a log on the shoreline at Rutland Water This weekend we’ve had an enjoyable weekend with some friends who live near Rutland Water which, according to Anglian Water, is one of the “largest man-made reservoirs in Europe and is located in Rutland, England’s smallest county. Set in 3,100 acres of countryside, it has a 25-mile circular track for walking and cycling”. Earlier today it was a little cloudy so I didn’t really get any great pictures but, nonetheless, it’s a place I want to head back to.

Trail Of Damage

Hurricane Ivan has already left a massive trail of damage in the Caribbean, killing at least 27 people elsewhere, mostly in Grenada.

jamaican beach in 1999jamaica in 1999In 1999 I was lucky enough to travel to Jamaica to see my father who was working there at the time. If I am honest I was not much taken by Kingston but outside of the capital it’s a very beautifully country. I will not forget the day on the speedboat cutting across the clear waters nor will I forget freshly caught lobster, cooked and eaten on the beach. This week I have been wondering what happened to these places after hurricane Ivan went on its seek and destroy mission across the Caribbean.